After decades spent globe-trotting, Laurie Buchmiller finally settled in Georgia. Then, she built a rustic house her loved ones can always call home.

Traveler's Insurance

Traveler's Insurance

When Laurie Buchmiller and her husband, Gordon, a property developer, moved to Atlanta in 1996 with their children, Tim and Julia, now in their 20s, something changed for the couple, who had previously lived in Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Tampa. "We fell in love with Georgia: the landscape, the weather, the people," Laurie explains. "We made lifelong friends, and found a true home."

No wonder, then, that she and Gordon didn't stray too far in their quest for a getaway. Just over 90 miles from Atlanta, a plot of land deep in the Chattahoochee National Forest—enveloped on three sides by Lake Burton and graced with breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountains—spoke to the Buchmillers.

In this photo: Appealingly asymmetrical built-ins—one with hidden storage, the other open—flank the great room's fieldstone fireplace. French leather club chairs from Wyatt Childs, plus a pair of Mitchell Gold Bob Williams sofas, serve up plenty of seating.

Front Entrance

Front Entrance

An Air Force brat, Laurie was born in Alaska and spent a chunk of her adolescence in Germany, punctuated by summers with her grandparents in New England. When she set out to build her lakeside home, she wanted a place where family and guests alike were welcome.

In this photo: The entryway's antique pine bench offers a spot for removing shoes.